You're probably familiar with the famous story about Magic Johnson's first game in the NBA, where he was so excited after Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's buzzer-beater that he leapt into his veteran center's arms and was told afterward that he'd have to curb his excitement or risk burnout over the 82-game haul.
Watching Ron Artest in his first big road game with the Houston Rockets, a 112-102 win at Dallas, brought that Magic tale to mind.
If he plays at this pace through 82, it's going to be exhausting just watching him. No one is going to tell him to curb any enthusiasm, though. He's just delivering what was advertised.
A pitbull. A tireless worker. An inspiration.
The Rockets came out flat defensively far too often last season, but that problem appears to have been solved. Artest is up applying pressure on the opposing ballhandlers from the jump, instantly setting the tone that nothing is going to be easy.
Usually when Artest is locked in defensively, his energy level increases on the offensive end and he seeks out opportunities. That's the trade-off. Sometimes it can be a negative.
He scored 10 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter, so there is an element of fear that he'll go into hero mode more often than Rick Adelman would want him to given the presence of Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady on the roster, but on this particular night, it worked. He was in a groove.
Yao was taken care of, scoring a game-high 30. T-Mac was more interested in playing facilitator throughout, gritting through a nagging shoulder injury and finding himself a spectator when the Rockets made their game-cliching 16-2 fourth quarter run. Even when out there, he went out of his way to sure Artest is comfortable.
It's working. Ronnie is at his emotionally unstable best, thrilled to be part of a team that can win every night.
When Yao got tangled up with Josh Howard late in the fourth quarter, Artest flew in instinctively to ensure the situation didn't escalate. You might wonder why someone 7-foot-6 would ever need protection from anyone, but that's part of the package when Artest is your teammate. He's got your back, and in his mind, it's his responsibility to be an enforcer.
Zach Zarba gave him a technical, presumably for making contact with Howard, but Artest's intended message was delivered. His teammates got a glimpse of how quickly he's willing to put himself in the middle of things. Critics of his passion will say that he was out of control and could've compromised his teammates by escalating the situation, but Artest's reaction never got out of control. If anything, it was Howard's surprise to seeing him coming that made the situation seem tense.
Can't blame him for that, either. If an opponent is a little on edge, isn't that a good thing? So what if Ronnie seems a little reckless?
Artest's passion is precisely what the Rockets needed.
There are going to be nights where he'll force too many shots, nights where he will be something of a distraction. So long as the wins greatly outnumber the losses, the rollercoaster is worth the ride. Fortunately, he's at the stage of his career where winning a ring becomes your driving force, so it's more likely that he'll generally color between the lines.
The Rockets don't need him to be predictable, anyway. They need him to keep things interesting. They signed up for the spark.
There's no perfect outlet or proper dosage for his energy. Artest is going to be Artest. In the past, that has bigger than his team. In Houston, where the stars are laid back and willing to share the spotlight, his baggage seems to fit.
Good thing, since there's really no toning him down.
Coming to a Cocktail Party near you
Good thing the Florida-Georgia football game is scheduled for a 3:30 ET tipoff, or else we'd have to wonder about where Al Horford's mind might be during Saturday night's home opener against Philadelphia.
"Man I can't go," Horford said of the annual a Florida-Georgia festivities up in Jacksonville, a football experience still referred to by the locals as the "World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party." "I've never been. My three years at Florida I never got a chance. Coach (Billy Donovan) always had two-a-days that day. He kind of did it on purpose. He didn't want us out there on the Landings... Hopefully I can make it out there one of the next few years."
A winner of two national championships while on the Gators basketball team, Horford takes a lot of pride in Urban Meyer's program, especially since they won a national title while Horford was on campus. He'll no doubt be skipping any pre-game napping on Saturday afternoon.
Thursday's +/- report: Bad start for Larry Brown's point guards in Charlotte, as neither Raymond Felton (-11) nor D.J. Augustin (-20) could get anything going against the Cavs. Felton shot 1-for-10 and contributed to digging a huge hole for the Bobcats, while Augustin had a team-high four turnovers en route to the worst number of the night... Not surprisingly, Daniel Gibson, he of the 10-for-14 shooting night, came in with the highest total (+32). He arrived at the Q unconscious and didn't wake up til it was time to throw his suit back on at night's end... Aaron Brooks (+22), Chuck Hayes (+21) and Brent Barry (+21) were part of the late run that beat Dallas, making the Rockets bench look good. The Mavs' bench? Jerry Stackhouse (-21, 1-for-6), Jet Terry (-16, 4-for-13) and DeSagana Diop (-18) can do better... Morris Peterson (+17, 7-for-10) cleaned up against the Suns. His 21 points were the most he's scored since Jan. 5, also against Phoenix. He'll have to stay hot for New Orleans to overcome the absence of Peja Stojakovic, who looks like he'll be out for at least a game or three with a bad ankle... Gotta start watching these Suns on the second night of back-to-backs. Steve Nash (-15, seven turnovers) and Shaquille O'Neal (-10, 8 points) looked a little flat, with the Suns succumbing in the second half as a result.
Oct 31, 2008
Oct 30, 2008
Rookie bigs stand tall to fill Oden's void
Greg Oden is expected back by the time December rolls around.
When the MRI results diagnosed a mid-lateral right foot sprain, Trail Blazers nation let out one huge exhale.
Depending on how quickly his powers of recovery are, he'll miss somewhere between eight and 15 games. It's a setback, but definitely nothing to despair over. The fact it's Oden, who hasn't been able to make it through a season without injury since graduating high school, shouldn't alter reality.
A very big man suffered a routine basketball injury when his very big foot tried to make a landing it didn't have clearance for. His sprain occurred in a way nearly every basketball player in the world can identify with. His foot will feel tender for a while and then it will heal. We'll have to wait a few more weeks to see his career begin, but there's no reason for alarm just yet.
By now, Oden is a rehab veteran and appears quite good at it. Judging by how much damage he was doing this preseason on a surgically repaired knee, it's safe to assume he'll bounce back from this.
In the meantime, there are apparently a few more intriguing first-year big men to keep an eye on than first thought, at least if the first full night of NBA action is to be believed.
Darrell Arthur and Marc Gasol, Memphis: Gasol started in the middle and scrapped, playing a style more reminiscent of Luis Scola than his more refined brother Pau. Finishing with 12 points and 12 boards (five offensive) in 36 minutes, little bro Marc served notice that he belongs in this league. As solid as Gasol was, Darrell Arthur's night was the true revelation, forcing second-year coach Marc Iavaroni to re-evaluate his rotation. Arthur, who was traded by New Orleans, Portland and Houston before his career even started, exibited a tremendous amount of energy and earned 27 minutes, playing like he was unleashed from the green room at Madison Square Garden's WaMu Theatre, where he sat until 26 players were taken ahead of him on draft night. He finished with 11 points and 15 rebounds, capitalizing on playing time that was expected to be taken up by Darko Milicic, who finished with more fouls (3) than points or rebounds (2).
Kevin Love, Minnesota: Randy Wittman gave the No. 5 pick just over 18 minutes of run and saw him make the most of his time, helping deliver a 98-96 victory over the Kings by displaying old school efficiency in a 12-point, nine-rebound, two-block effort. Love's first basket was a rebound and put-back, and his personal highlight reel put the fun in fundamentals.
Jason Thompson, Sacramento: The Rider-to-NBA leap didn't look so tough. Thompson went for 18 points and 10 boards in 22 minutes, thrilling his proud parents despite the Kings' loss. Second-year center Spencer Hawes has apparently gotten a lot tougher than he looked as a rookie. Starting in place of the suspended Brad Miller, Hawes wound up with 12 points, 14
rebounds and six blocks and did a nice job at containing Al Jefferson in the second half to aid a Kings rally that fell just short.
New Jersey's Brook Lopez (8 points, 8 rebounds) got off to a solid start, and although Phoenix's Robin Lopez, Golden State's Anthony Randolph, Washington's JeVale McGee, Cleveland's J.J. Hickson, Indiana's Roy Hibbert and Philadelphia's Marreese Speights didn't have an impact in their debuts, all have shown signs this preseason of being further along than expected.
I'll hesitate that the 2008 Draft will prove to be stiff-free, but it might wind up being far more fruitful than most anticipated it would be. At the very least, they'll combine to entertain us while Oden mends.
Hold the Mayo; Beasley, too
Can't talk rookies and not mention how disappointing Miami's Michael Beasley and Minnesota's O.J. Mayo were with their first efforts.
Mayo showed no signs of shyness in his first start with Memphis, shooting a ghastly 5-for-20, including 0-for-7 from 3-point range. He's athletic enough to thrive as a rookie, but his judgment must make huge strides.
At least his team won.
Beasley had told the Sun-Sentinel prior to his debut against the Knicks that he felt "the first impression is the best. Why not come in with a bang? Why not come in and let people know you're here?"
Instead, Beasley hit the NBA scene with a thud, shooting 4-for-14 from the field in a performance there wasn't much to look back fondly on.
"I had a bad game," Beasley told the Miami Herald. "I missed [a] couple shots, and my confidence just went out the window."
Chalk it up to a learning experinece for the No. 2 pick, who needs to have a short memory and make sure not to think too much, relying on his overwhelming talent and instincts more.
Mario Chalmers, notorious for his role in turning the rookie symposium into a personal playpen, has gotten back in the Heat's good graces and started next to Dwyane Wade ahead of Chris Quinn. The University of Kansas standout made a great first impression (17 points, seven rebounds, eight assists), nearly rallying the Heat from a double-digit fourth quarter disadvantage in an eventual 120-115 loss in New York.
For old times sake
Josh Smith and Dwight Howard go way back -- "to preschool," as Smith puts it, which is why it gave the Hawks forward so much pleasure at getting the better of his former AAU teammate in Atlanta's 99-85 win in Orlando.
Smith set the tone with a pair of first quarter swats of Howard, ending up with five in the game, not to mention the big smile on his face when I caught up with him in the Hawks locker room.
"I don't know if you remember last year, at home (in Atlanta), he dunked on me, got an and-1," said Smith, icing his knee while savorning his revenge. "When I met him in the offseason he kind of got at me about it and I didn't like it. I wanted to try to prove a point when we came down here."
"It's all good," Howard replied when I relayed the message. "It happens. Next time we play him I'll be ready for him to come. Tonight, he timed me every time I get to the basket to get some good blocks, but it's the first game. They beat our butts tonight, but hey, next time, Josh jumps and I'm coming down, he'd better watch out. I think he had three blocks on me. He has good timing. He knows what I like to do."
Odds and ends
Don't lose sight of the two very special comebacks that took place on Wednesday night, even though neither was celebrated with a victory.
Etan Thomas finalized the long road back from open heart surgery performed just over a year ago, starting at center for Washington and racking up 10 points and eight rebounds in 18 minutes.
Meanwhile, Shaun Livingston made his unexpected return from that gruesome knee injury anyone who saw it winces at the memory of back in February of 2007.
Miami's newest addition wasn't supposed to be on the active roster for Wednesday's game at the Garden, but impressed Erik Spoelstra with his mobility in recent practices and wound up breaking a sweat. Livingston, who many feared would never play again, hit a pair of free throws and added a steal in 4:20.
Detroit replaced Flip Saunders with Michael Curry in the biggest move of the team's offseason follwoing its latest playoff disappointment and added a subtle tweak in their opener, starting Amir Johnson ahead of Antonio McDyess in a move intended to maximize the energy level of the starting five. Johnson is a superior athlete whose wingspan causes problems, but he'll have to learn to play off his more experienced teammates and make sure not to get in the way. His first attempt showed promise, with three offensive rebounds and three blocks supplying the spark this experiment seeks.
The folks in Oklahoma City got love from the visiting David Stern, but none from the referee crew of Mark Wunderlich, Derrick Collins and David Jones, who rung up the Thunder's Kevin Durant for three first half fouls, leading to goose-eggs in points and rebounds for the reigning Rookie of the Year. Jeff Green struggled, too, shooting just 2-for-7 and finishing with five turnovers.
Kevin Martin missed two 3-pointers that would've given Sacramento an last-minute edge over the new-look Wolves, then John Salmons failed to tie with a tip-in at the buzzer. No doubt, there had to be fresh frustration behind Reggie Theus' claim that if Martin "has any type of game at all, we beat this team," but you've got to love that he said. It's the opposite of coach-speak, filled with emotion and the type of spirit perfect for the young rebuilding effort he's been put in charge of.
He's got their backs and isn't opposed to say so.
Proof Gregg Popovich was in a good mood prior to running into Shaquille O'Neal and the Suns.
Proof he probably wasn't as pleased post-game: Tony Parker and Tim Duncan combined for two-thirds of the Spurs' points and getting little help, losing despite their top threats combining for 63 points on 58 percent shooitng. Hurry back, Manu.
The LA Lakers have put together an impressive first 96 minutes of ball. They enter the weekend favored to righfully leapfrog everyone in front of them and take the top spot in the PBN Power Rankings.
Current No. 1 New Orleans found out just how valuable James Posey can be, molesting Golden State's Corey Maggette during an inbounds pass to keep the ball from getting to the Warriors top scorer with 14.1 seconds to go. The play earned him an excited pat on the back from Byron Scott, who's thrilled to have someone so capable at doing all the little things to help a team win.
Stephen Jackson, who threw the errant inbounds pass, ran out gas after playing all 48 minutes, much of which was spent guarding Chris Paul. The workload took its toll, contributing to Jack-O missing his last seven shots.
Wednesday's +/- report: Another Laker took the day's top honor, as Pau Gasol pulled off an impressive +29, leading a group six who finished at +18 or better against the overwhelmed Clippers. Despite playing less than 20 minutes, Tim Thomas wound up a pathetic -28. You had to know new Rocket Ron Artest would come in at his guns-blazing team-aiding best, delivering a +19. Rafer Alston, despite a 1-for-6 clip from 3-point range, notched a +15. No turnovers... Every Memphis starter was outscored by double-digits while out on the floor with the exception of Gasol. No one is ever going to forget how cheap the Lakers got Pau, but Marc Gasol should ease a little of Memphis' burden... Utah's Ronnie Price went 1-for-9 from the field as Deron Williams' replacement at the point, but the poor shooting didn't stop him from registering a team-high +14 in a good win over Denver... Mike Bibby and Josh Smith were each +23 in helping Atlanta step on Orlando's throats. Magic fans got their wish as J.J. Redick joined the rotation and played a reserve-high 19 minutes in which he finished a team-low -18. Love was brilliant in his short stint for Minnesota, pacing the team (and all rookies) with a +20.
When the MRI results diagnosed a mid-lateral right foot sprain, Trail Blazers nation let out one huge exhale.
Depending on how quickly his powers of recovery are, he'll miss somewhere between eight and 15 games. It's a setback, but definitely nothing to despair over. The fact it's Oden, who hasn't been able to make it through a season without injury since graduating high school, shouldn't alter reality.
A very big man suffered a routine basketball injury when his very big foot tried to make a landing it didn't have clearance for. His sprain occurred in a way nearly every basketball player in the world can identify with. His foot will feel tender for a while and then it will heal. We'll have to wait a few more weeks to see his career begin, but there's no reason for alarm just yet.
By now, Oden is a rehab veteran and appears quite good at it. Judging by how much damage he was doing this preseason on a surgically repaired knee, it's safe to assume he'll bounce back from this.
In the meantime, there are apparently a few more intriguing first-year big men to keep an eye on than first thought, at least if the first full night of NBA action is to be believed.
Darrell Arthur and Marc Gasol, Memphis: Gasol started in the middle and scrapped, playing a style more reminiscent of Luis Scola than his more refined brother Pau. Finishing with 12 points and 12 boards (five offensive) in 36 minutes, little bro Marc served notice that he belongs in this league. As solid as Gasol was, Darrell Arthur's night was the true revelation, forcing second-year coach Marc Iavaroni to re-evaluate his rotation. Arthur, who was traded by New Orleans, Portland and Houston before his career even started, exibited a tremendous amount of energy and earned 27 minutes, playing like he was unleashed from the green room at Madison Square Garden's WaMu Theatre, where he sat until 26 players were taken ahead of him on draft night. He finished with 11 points and 15 rebounds, capitalizing on playing time that was expected to be taken up by Darko Milicic, who finished with more fouls (3) than points or rebounds (2).
Kevin Love, Minnesota: Randy Wittman gave the No. 5 pick just over 18 minutes of run and saw him make the most of his time, helping deliver a 98-96 victory over the Kings by displaying old school efficiency in a 12-point, nine-rebound, two-block effort. Love's first basket was a rebound and put-back, and his personal highlight reel put the fun in fundamentals.
Jason Thompson, Sacramento: The Rider-to-NBA leap didn't look so tough. Thompson went for 18 points and 10 boards in 22 minutes, thrilling his proud parents despite the Kings' loss. Second-year center Spencer Hawes has apparently gotten a lot tougher than he looked as a rookie. Starting in place of the suspended Brad Miller, Hawes wound up with 12 points, 14
rebounds and six blocks and did a nice job at containing Al Jefferson in the second half to aid a Kings rally that fell just short.
New Jersey's Brook Lopez (8 points, 8 rebounds) got off to a solid start, and although Phoenix's Robin Lopez, Golden State's Anthony Randolph, Washington's JeVale McGee, Cleveland's J.J. Hickson, Indiana's Roy Hibbert and Philadelphia's Marreese Speights didn't have an impact in their debuts, all have shown signs this preseason of being further along than expected.
I'll hesitate that the 2008 Draft will prove to be stiff-free, but it might wind up being far more fruitful than most anticipated it would be. At the very least, they'll combine to entertain us while Oden mends.
Hold the Mayo; Beasley, too
Can't talk rookies and not mention how disappointing Miami's Michael Beasley and Minnesota's O.J. Mayo were with their first efforts.
Mayo showed no signs of shyness in his first start with Memphis, shooting a ghastly 5-for-20, including 0-for-7 from 3-point range. He's athletic enough to thrive as a rookie, but his judgment must make huge strides.
At least his team won.
Beasley had told the Sun-Sentinel prior to his debut against the Knicks that he felt "the first impression is the best. Why not come in with a bang? Why not come in and let people know you're here?"
Instead, Beasley hit the NBA scene with a thud, shooting 4-for-14 from the field in a performance there wasn't much to look back fondly on.
"I had a bad game," Beasley told the Miami Herald. "I missed [a] couple shots, and my confidence just went out the window."
Chalk it up to a learning experinece for the No. 2 pick, who needs to have a short memory and make sure not to think too much, relying on his overwhelming talent and instincts more.
Mario Chalmers, notorious for his role in turning the rookie symposium into a personal playpen, has gotten back in the Heat's good graces and started next to Dwyane Wade ahead of Chris Quinn. The University of Kansas standout made a great first impression (17 points, seven rebounds, eight assists), nearly rallying the Heat from a double-digit fourth quarter disadvantage in an eventual 120-115 loss in New York.
For old times sake
Josh Smith and Dwight Howard go way back -- "to preschool," as Smith puts it, which is why it gave the Hawks forward so much pleasure at getting the better of his former AAU teammate in Atlanta's 99-85 win in Orlando.
Smith set the tone with a pair of first quarter swats of Howard, ending up with five in the game, not to mention the big smile on his face when I caught up with him in the Hawks locker room.
"I don't know if you remember last year, at home (in Atlanta), he dunked on me, got an and-1," said Smith, icing his knee while savorning his revenge. "When I met him in the offseason he kind of got at me about it and I didn't like it. I wanted to try to prove a point when we came down here."
"It's all good," Howard replied when I relayed the message. "It happens. Next time we play him I'll be ready for him to come. Tonight, he timed me every time I get to the basket to get some good blocks, but it's the first game. They beat our butts tonight, but hey, next time, Josh jumps and I'm coming down, he'd better watch out. I think he had three blocks on me. He has good timing. He knows what I like to do."
Odds and ends
Don't lose sight of the two very special comebacks that took place on Wednesday night, even though neither was celebrated with a victory.
Etan Thomas finalized the long road back from open heart surgery performed just over a year ago, starting at center for Washington and racking up 10 points and eight rebounds in 18 minutes.
Meanwhile, Shaun Livingston made his unexpected return from that gruesome knee injury anyone who saw it winces at the memory of back in February of 2007.
Miami's newest addition wasn't supposed to be on the active roster for Wednesday's game at the Garden, but impressed Erik Spoelstra with his mobility in recent practices and wound up breaking a sweat. Livingston, who many feared would never play again, hit a pair of free throws and added a steal in 4:20.
Detroit replaced Flip Saunders with Michael Curry in the biggest move of the team's offseason follwoing its latest playoff disappointment and added a subtle tweak in their opener, starting Amir Johnson ahead of Antonio McDyess in a move intended to maximize the energy level of the starting five. Johnson is a superior athlete whose wingspan causes problems, but he'll have to learn to play off his more experienced teammates and make sure not to get in the way. His first attempt showed promise, with three offensive rebounds and three blocks supplying the spark this experiment seeks.
The folks in Oklahoma City got love from the visiting David Stern, but none from the referee crew of Mark Wunderlich, Derrick Collins and David Jones, who rung up the Thunder's Kevin Durant for three first half fouls, leading to goose-eggs in points and rebounds for the reigning Rookie of the Year. Jeff Green struggled, too, shooting just 2-for-7 and finishing with five turnovers.
Kevin Martin missed two 3-pointers that would've given Sacramento an last-minute edge over the new-look Wolves, then John Salmons failed to tie with a tip-in at the buzzer. No doubt, there had to be fresh frustration behind Reggie Theus' claim that if Martin "has any type of game at all, we beat this team," but you've got to love that he said. It's the opposite of coach-speak, filled with emotion and the type of spirit perfect for the young rebuilding effort he's been put in charge of.
He's got their backs and isn't opposed to say so.
Proof Gregg Popovich was in a good mood prior to running into Shaquille O'Neal and the Suns.
Proof he probably wasn't as pleased post-game: Tony Parker and Tim Duncan combined for two-thirds of the Spurs' points and getting little help, losing despite their top threats combining for 63 points on 58 percent shooitng. Hurry back, Manu.
The LA Lakers have put together an impressive first 96 minutes of ball. They enter the weekend favored to righfully leapfrog everyone in front of them and take the top spot in the PBN Power Rankings.
Current No. 1 New Orleans found out just how valuable James Posey can be, molesting Golden State's Corey Maggette during an inbounds pass to keep the ball from getting to the Warriors top scorer with 14.1 seconds to go. The play earned him an excited pat on the back from Byron Scott, who's thrilled to have someone so capable at doing all the little things to help a team win.
Stephen Jackson, who threw the errant inbounds pass, ran out gas after playing all 48 minutes, much of which was spent guarding Chris Paul. The workload took its toll, contributing to Jack-O missing his last seven shots.
Wednesday's +/- report: Another Laker took the day's top honor, as Pau Gasol pulled off an impressive +29, leading a group six who finished at +18 or better against the overwhelmed Clippers. Despite playing less than 20 minutes, Tim Thomas wound up a pathetic -28. You had to know new Rocket Ron Artest would come in at his guns-blazing team-aiding best, delivering a +19. Rafer Alston, despite a 1-for-6 clip from 3-point range, notched a +15. No turnovers... Every Memphis starter was outscored by double-digits while out on the floor with the exception of Gasol. No one is ever going to forget how cheap the Lakers got Pau, but Marc Gasol should ease a little of Memphis' burden... Utah's Ronnie Price went 1-for-9 from the field as Deron Williams' replacement at the point, but the poor shooting didn't stop him from registering a team-high +14 in a good win over Denver... Mike Bibby and Josh Smith were each +23 in helping Atlanta step on Orlando's throats. Magic fans got their wish as J.J. Redick joined the rotation and played a reserve-high 19 minutes in which he finished a team-low -18. Love was brilliant in his short stint for Minnesota, pacing the team (and all rookies) with a +20.
Oct 29, 2008
First night packed with developments
The Celtics didn't let ring night get spoiled, Tyrus Thomas really got up for Scott Skiles' Bucks and the Lakers went all Mr. Olympia on Portland in an action-packed opening night.
The Lakers flexed massive muscles throughout a truly dominant first effort, suffocating Portland defensively and getting a perfect 10 out of Kobe Bryant.
If the league's reigning MVP can put together performances like he did against the Blazers, L.A. could wind up with the league's best record.
Kobe forced nothing. His 23 points came at the most opportune times. Remember, four months ago the Lakers notoriously blew one the largest leads in Finals history. After surging to a huge advantage against the Blazers, Bryant extinguished nearly every run with a big play, effectively taking over whenever he wanted.
The sour note in L.A.'s romp was of course Greg Oden's game-altering foot sprain, incredibly suffered on the third play of the game after coming down on Derek Fisher's foot following a hook shot.
Despite his desire to continue gutting it out, Oden physically couldn't go, unable to run despite having the foot taped.
The Lakers flexed massive muscles throughout a truly dominant first effort, suffocating Portland defensively and getting a perfect 10 out of Kobe Bryant.
If the league's reigning MVP can put together performances like he did against the Blazers, L.A. could wind up with the league's best record.
Kobe forced nothing. His 23 points came at the most opportune times. Remember, four months ago the Lakers notoriously blew one the largest leads in Finals history. After surging to a huge advantage against the Blazers, Bryant extinguished nearly every run with a big play, effectively taking over whenever he wanted.
The sour note in L.A.'s romp was of course Greg Oden's game-altering foot sprain, incredibly suffered on the third play of the game after coming down on Derek Fisher's foot following a hook shot.
Despite his desire to continue gutting it out, Oden physically couldn't go, unable to run despite having the foot taped.
We'll collectively hold our breath's for the results of Wednesday's MRI. Everyone should want to see this kid succeed.
"It sucks," a disappointed Oden told reporters post-game," but you know, keep on working. Just a little setback."
Hopefully, he's right. This eerie Blazers center curse needs to stop.
Cavs cost themselves chance to spoil Boston's fun
Mike Brown won't be beating himself up too much over his Cavs coming up short in Boston. Cleveland gave itself an opportunity to win from an effort standpoint, but missed far too many open shots.
That especially includes those uncovered 15-foot shots they give you from that place they call the charity stripe.
After knocking down 19 of their first 23 free throws, the Cavs failed to respond in the fourth, finishing up 5-for-10. LeBron James went 2-for-6. He looked out of sync throughout. Ditto for Mo Williams, Boobie Gibson, Wally Sczerbiak and Sasha Pavlovic, Cleveland's supposed shooting specialists.
Combined, they went 10-for-28, repeatedly wasting opportunities. Chalk it up to an off night.
At least Anderson Varejao and Zydrunas Ilguaskas looked spry. Sadly, Ben Wallace didn't.
From the Celtics' end, they have to like the resiliency displayed after coming out flat and weepy after seeing that 17th banner go up.
Watching Paul Pierce and Leon Powe make big plays sure picks up where we left off and it was nice that Pierce redeemed himself for almost delaying tip-off with what had to be the longest pre-game speech since Lou Gehrig's.
Bulls stop Bucks in encouraging opener
Chicago/Milwaukee produced plenty of eyebrow-raising fodder, starting with how comfortable Derrick Rose looked scooting around out there. He was sharp, finishing with 11 points, nine assists and four turnovers that he wasn't happy about.
Ben Gordon did what he does best, beginning his season-long audition off on the right foot with 18 points. His future won't be in Chicago, but while he's there, he may as well help win some games and earn himself some extra dollars. Having accepted a qualifying offer from the Bulls after flirting with Europe, Gordon is in the process of earning every penny possible when he comes up for unrestricted free agency next summer.
As good as Rose and Gordon were, Thomas left the most tantalizing impression. After spending the offseason dedicating himself to doing all the right things, he made sure his former coach had a front-row seat to what might go down as his coming-out party.
It's still too early to say for sure, but his first offering was impressive, a testament to his desire to work hard for new coach Vinny Del Negro, who has vowed to treat him fairly by promising what Skiles wouldn't: consistent minutes.
Thomas played 41:26 of the available 48 on Tuesday, the most of any player in all three games. He responded with 15 points, 10 rebounds and provided a game-changing presence on both ends of the floor.
"You can't produce consistently if you don't play consistent minutes," Thomas told the Chicago Tribune. "It's impossible, regardless what people say. You play me five minutes and then say I'm inconsistent? That's crazy.
"You won't be consistent playing 30 minutes a game for three games and then five minutes a game for the next six. It's not going to happen. I know what I can do. If I play consistent minutes, I'll produce consistently."
There may be a similar situation brewing at power forward in Skiles' new surroundings, where Charlie Villanueva, Malik Allen and rookies Luc Richard Mbah a Moute and Joe Alexander are all going vying for time next to Richard Jefferson and Andrew Bogut.
Villanueva got the start, because, as he told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, "it would have just been an arbitrary decision by me to do something different rotationally. He deserves first crack at it. He's played well in exhibition. He's another guy who's trying to do everything we're asking him to do."
Villanueva lasted less than nine minutes, deferring to Malik Allen and Mbah a Moute, who led all reserves by playing 26.
It's obvious where this is headed.
Mbah a Moute, who Skiles has touted one of the best defensive rookies he's ever come across, is going to be looked upon as the glue guy. It's only a matter of time before he's starting and Villanueva is left to fill in during times when another scorer is needed, potentially in relief of Jefferson.
Alexander didn't get off the bench despite being the first guy Skiles called upon in the Bucks' last two exhibition games. He didn't play well in those opportunities and clearly hasn't earned his new coach's confidence.
Allen, the most natural power forward on the roster, is pretty much guaranteed to see action, which leaves Villanueva or Alexander out of the mix.
You can't play everybody, but Skiles can take a cue from Thomas' rant and attempt to be consistent and direct. He's not the type to coddle anyone, but he's got to understand that Villanueva and Alexander are former Top-10 picks who are supposed to be part of Milwaukee's future.
As it stands now, it looks like at least one should come to terms with the fact he won't be playing. It's up to Skiles to make sure no hard feelings ensue that disrupt his team the way the Bulls came apart.
Tuesday's +/- report: Delonte West was a -10 against the Celtics despite starting and spending the bulk of his 35 minutes out there with Cleveland's regulars. If I'm Brown, one thing I am reconsidering is going with West over Sasha Pavlovic, who was limited by an ailing ankle all preseason but should be roudning into shape...Pierce and Powe, not surprisingly led the Celtics with a +12...Michael Redd's 30 points weren't enough to keep Milwaukee from losing by double-digits because the bench offered little. Mbah a Moute fared decently but Charlie Bell, Tyronn Lue and Allen were all -13s, while Dan Gadzuric chipped in a -11. Interestingly, Villanueva was a +5 in his limited action, the only Bucks player to register a positive... Oden registered a -13 in just under 13 minutes. Travis Outlaw, who was by far the best of the Blazers' bad bunch, came in at -18 despite his team-high 18 points. Derek Fisher, who looked 24 years old instead of 34 in diving around all over the place, registered the highest +/- on opening night, breaking out a +20.
Hopefully, he's right. This eerie Blazers center curse needs to stop.
Cavs cost themselves chance to spoil Boston's fun
Mike Brown won't be beating himself up too much over his Cavs coming up short in Boston. Cleveland gave itself an opportunity to win from an effort standpoint, but missed far too many open shots.
That especially includes those uncovered 15-foot shots they give you from that place they call the charity stripe.
After knocking down 19 of their first 23 free throws, the Cavs failed to respond in the fourth, finishing up 5-for-10. LeBron James went 2-for-6. He looked out of sync throughout. Ditto for Mo Williams, Boobie Gibson, Wally Sczerbiak and Sasha Pavlovic, Cleveland's supposed shooting specialists.
Combined, they went 10-for-28, repeatedly wasting opportunities. Chalk it up to an off night.
At least Anderson Varejao and Zydrunas Ilguaskas looked spry. Sadly, Ben Wallace didn't.
From the Celtics' end, they have to like the resiliency displayed after coming out flat and weepy after seeing that 17th banner go up.
Watching Paul Pierce and Leon Powe make big plays sure picks up where we left off and it was nice that Pierce redeemed himself for almost delaying tip-off with what had to be the longest pre-game speech since Lou Gehrig's.
Bulls stop Bucks in encouraging opener
Chicago/Milwaukee produced plenty of eyebrow-raising fodder, starting with how comfortable Derrick Rose looked scooting around out there. He was sharp, finishing with 11 points, nine assists and four turnovers that he wasn't happy about.
Ben Gordon did what he does best, beginning his season-long audition off on the right foot with 18 points. His future won't be in Chicago, but while he's there, he may as well help win some games and earn himself some extra dollars. Having accepted a qualifying offer from the Bulls after flirting with Europe, Gordon is in the process of earning every penny possible when he comes up for unrestricted free agency next summer.
As good as Rose and Gordon were, Thomas left the most tantalizing impression. After spending the offseason dedicating himself to doing all the right things, he made sure his former coach had a front-row seat to what might go down as his coming-out party.
It's still too early to say for sure, but his first offering was impressive, a testament to his desire to work hard for new coach Vinny Del Negro, who has vowed to treat him fairly by promising what Skiles wouldn't: consistent minutes.
Thomas played 41:26 of the available 48 on Tuesday, the most of any player in all three games. He responded with 15 points, 10 rebounds and provided a game-changing presence on both ends of the floor.
"You can't produce consistently if you don't play consistent minutes," Thomas told the Chicago Tribune. "It's impossible, regardless what people say. You play me five minutes and then say I'm inconsistent? That's crazy.
"You won't be consistent playing 30 minutes a game for three games and then five minutes a game for the next six. It's not going to happen. I know what I can do. If I play consistent minutes, I'll produce consistently."
There may be a similar situation brewing at power forward in Skiles' new surroundings, where Charlie Villanueva, Malik Allen and rookies Luc Richard Mbah a Moute and Joe Alexander are all going vying for time next to Richard Jefferson and Andrew Bogut.
Villanueva got the start, because, as he told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, "it would have just been an arbitrary decision by me to do something different rotationally. He deserves first crack at it. He's played well in exhibition. He's another guy who's trying to do everything we're asking him to do."
Villanueva lasted less than nine minutes, deferring to Malik Allen and Mbah a Moute, who led all reserves by playing 26.
It's obvious where this is headed.
Mbah a Moute, who Skiles has touted one of the best defensive rookies he's ever come across, is going to be looked upon as the glue guy. It's only a matter of time before he's starting and Villanueva is left to fill in during times when another scorer is needed, potentially in relief of Jefferson.
Alexander didn't get off the bench despite being the first guy Skiles called upon in the Bucks' last two exhibition games. He didn't play well in those opportunities and clearly hasn't earned his new coach's confidence.
Allen, the most natural power forward on the roster, is pretty much guaranteed to see action, which leaves Villanueva or Alexander out of the mix.
You can't play everybody, but Skiles can take a cue from Thomas' rant and attempt to be consistent and direct. He's not the type to coddle anyone, but he's got to understand that Villanueva and Alexander are former Top-10 picks who are supposed to be part of Milwaukee's future.
As it stands now, it looks like at least one should come to terms with the fact he won't be playing. It's up to Skiles to make sure no hard feelings ensue that disrupt his team the way the Bulls came apart.
Tuesday's +/- report: Delonte West was a -10 against the Celtics despite starting and spending the bulk of his 35 minutes out there with Cleveland's regulars. If I'm Brown, one thing I am reconsidering is going with West over Sasha Pavlovic, who was limited by an ailing ankle all preseason but should be roudning into shape...Pierce and Powe, not surprisingly led the Celtics with a +12...Michael Redd's 30 points weren't enough to keep Milwaukee from losing by double-digits because the bench offered little. Mbah a Moute fared decently but Charlie Bell, Tyronn Lue and Allen were all -13s, while Dan Gadzuric chipped in a -11. Interestingly, Villanueva was a +5 in his limited action, the only Bucks player to register a positive... Oden registered a -13 in just under 13 minutes. Travis Outlaw, who was by far the best of the Blazers' bad bunch, came in at -18 despite his team-high 18 points. Derek Fisher, who looked 24 years old instead of 34 in diving around all over the place, registered the highest +/- on opening night, breaking out a +20.
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